Geoege aaeon smith



(No Model.)

G. A. SMITH.

SHOE.

No. 331,838. Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

Invenior N. PETERS, immoumo n han Wa-Hngton. c4 c4 UNITED STATES PATENT Utmost GEORGE AARON SMITH, OF ROOKLAND, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331.833, dated December 8, 1885.

Application filed September 19, 1885. Serial No. 177,559.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE AARON SMITH, of Rockland, in the county of Plymouth, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoes; and I do hereby declare the same to be described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a top View, and Fig. 2 a side elevation,of ashoe of my invention, the nature of which is defined in the claim hereinafter presented.

It consists in a shoe having its upper coi posed of leather criniped or stretched into form in the instep portion thereof, and afterward slit down the middle of the stretched part to make in it an instep-opening, there being in the upper near to each edge of such opening a series of holes provided with eyelets for receiving alacing, the ends of the said upper extending to the middle of the back of the heel, and there being secured or sewed together.

In the drawings the upper of the shoe is shown at a, the sole at b, and the heel at c. The leather composing the upper is first cut in the requisite form for being crimped, so as to cause the upper, when on the foot of a person, to be suitably raised over the instep thereof. Next such leather is to be crimped or stretched transversely in other respects (No model.)

upon a suitable form and to the necessary extent to give to it the required instep-rise, after which it is to be slit or out down through the middle of such rise, as shown at d. Subsequently there is to be made in the upper near such edge of the slit a series of lacingholes, e, into each of which an eyelet may be inserted. The ends of the upper are next to be stitched or seamed together at and down the middle of the back of the heel, such serving to stiffen the upper at such hack, and to prevent or aid in preventing it from then breaking down or wrinkling while the shoe may be in Wear. The upper thus made is to be lined, finished, and fixed to an insole and an outer sole in the usual manner.

- I do not claim, broadly, ashoe having an instep-opening formed in its upper Without such upper being crimped, as described.

I claim As an improved article of manufacture, a shoe having its upper of a single piece of material criinped into form in the instep portion thereof, and slitted down the middle of such portion, and provided with lacingholes and a lacing, and having itsends extending to and sea-med together at the middle of the back of the heel, all substantially as set forth.

GEORGE AARGN SMITH.

W'itnesses:

R. H. EDDY, Enunsr B. PRATT. 

